Quarterbacks

Justin Herbert – $7000

My number one quarterback on the main slate is going to be Justin Herbert. The Titans possess one of the best defenses in the league against the run, and Austin Ekeler is out this week, therefore we are going to watch Herbert cook. The Titans do not have a great secondary as we just watched Derek Car go for over 300 yards last week. I fully expect Herbert to get over 300 yards with at least 2 TDs.

Patrick Mahomes – $8300

In what could end up as the biggest shootout of the week, projected total 51 points, Mahomes is looking to rebound from a week 1 loss that saw him somewhat underperform. There won’t be many games that Mahomes throws the ball 40 times and him not get you 30 fantasy points. Last week Anthony Richardson had over 250 total yards and 2 TDs against this defense. Great stack opportunities with a lot of cheap chiefs pass catchers.

Baker Mayfield – $5100

Yes, that Baker Mayfield. I mentioned him last week that he had a great chance at throwing 2 TDs, and we are going right back to it. Great weapons on the outside, and a running game that isn’t getting off the ground, Baker is in another great position against the Bears. We just saw Jordan Love throw for 245 and 3 TDs, so it’s not unreal to see Baker eclipse 20 points this week. If you want to play the studs at RB and WR, this is your QB.

Running Backs

Derrick Henry – $7400

Every year we find a game that Derrick Henry is incredibly underpriced. This is that game. The King goes against a defense in the Chargers that historically struggles to stop the run, 31st in yards allowed last year. Ryan Tannehill does not look great, so you have to imagine the game script is going to involve a lot of Derrick Henry. I expect the King to return top 3 RB numbers today.

Saquon Barkley – $8000

Essentially removed from the game script last week before halftime, there are huge bounce back opportunity in a game where the Giants should control the game. The Arizona Cardinals showed last week that they can rush the QB, and Daniel Jones did not look very good against a pass rush. I expect Barkley to touch the ball 25+ times in this game, and we chase opportunity in fantasy more than anything. Barkley will have the best opportunity than any RB on the slate today top the leaderboard today.

AJ Dillon – $5900

Aaron Jones is not expected to play giving Dillon an excellent chance today to really showcase himself as a bell cow back. Jones had 127 total yards last week as the RB is a vital tool in the success of this offense. Dillon should see most of the work in the passing game as well as 20+ rushing attempts, putting him in a great position for 18+ fantasy points today.

Zack Moss – $4700

Moss is coming back from a fractured forearm in the preseason and will get the start for the Colts today against the Texans. Last week Deon Jackson looked incapable averaging 1.1 yards per carry. Zach Moss will have all the chances to own this backfield in the interim of Jonathan Taylor’s hiatus, and it starts today against a Texans defense that allowed over 100 and 3 TDs against the Ravens last week. If Moss gets in the end zone, he will return a great score on his $4700 price.

Wide Receivers

Keenan Allen – $7100

If you are playing Justin Herbert, you are stacking him with Keenan Allen today. With Austin Ekeler out, Allen could see 15 targets against a Swiss cheese Titans secondary. Last week he had 6 catches for 76 yards on 9 targets, and we realistically could double all those numbers with a score today. Throw in a touchdown and Allen could return 25 points today. Mike Williams ($5700) is another great stack play as the three of them could put you in a great spot in tournaments.

Calvin Ridley – $7200

Last week Ridley brought in 8 of 11 targets for 101 yards as it looked like Trevor Lawrence was enjoying having Ridley on the field. The clear number one option in a game where the Jaguars will be looking to keep up with Mahomes and company, Ridley could be in line for another huge game.

Chris Godwin – $6200

Chris Godwin operates out of the slot for the Buccaneers and the Bears starting slot corner will be out for this game. That sounds like a recipe for disaster for the Bears. 5 catches 51 yards on 6 targets last week and we could be looking at double those numbers with a TD. I love a Mayfield Evans Godwin stack today.

Gabriel Davis – $5800

Last week Stefon Diggs went off against a much better Jets defense, so why would you play Gabe Davis? Many are expecting a bounce back performance from Josh Allen, and the Raiders defense can be had. They will be game planning to stop Diggs and Davis should have a lot of territory to work on Sunday. Some of the best Josh Allen performances are when Gabe Davis booms, we could be looking at one of those coming here.

Tight Ends

Darren Waller – $5500

Waller is third highest priced TE on the slate today, but still priced well below Kelce $7600. I mentioned earlier that Jones did not look great against the pass rush last week, therefore the Giants should be looking to get the ball out of his hands quickly. The Giants should be able to get into the red zone, unlike last week giving Waller great opportunity to score. The Giants love throwing to the TE in the red zone, and they haven’t had a weapon like Waller at TE in a long time.

Sam LaPorta – $3900

Last week LaPorta saw 5 targets against the Chiefs and looked like a very capable playmaker hauling in all 5. The Seahawks did not look like a solid defense last week and I believe the Lions will put up some points. Jared Goff loves to go to the TE historically in the red zone and I could see LaPorta scoring today which would give a great return at a low price.

Logan Thomas – $3100

This one is pretty simple, young QBs love them some TEs. Thomas saw 8 targets last week, and if that continues, you can’t ignore that target share at that price.

Defense/Special Teams

Dallas Cowboys – $4000

Do we expect a repeat performance of last weeks Earth shattering 37 point game? Of course not, but could we actually see it? We all know what Zach Wilson is and we could see another game with a lot of sacks and turnover potential. I don’t expect this defense to disappoint at this price.

New York Jets – $2700

While the Dallas defense made the Giants defense unplayable last week, I can’t imagine a repeat performance happening. The Jets defense just made Josh Allen look like Dak Prescott, what do you think they are going to make Dak look like? The potential is Nathan Peterman. We honestly could see the Jets do to the Cowboys, what the Cowboys did to the Giants last week.

Atlanta Falcons – $2900

Call it a hunch, I think Jordan Love comes back to Earth a bit and turns the ball over against the Falcons. Atlanta can run the ball and control the clock putting Love in position to have to make plays and potentially make mistakes. I think Atlanta is a sneaky play to be a top defense this week.

The post DFS Plays for Week 2 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

All-pro running back Derrick Henry once again led the NFL in rushing attempts at 349 in 2022. It’s understandable why considering the issues at quarterback and the lack of explosiveness on offense. The Titans ranked 2nd to last in avg. explosive run rate and avg. explosive pass rate according to Sharp Football. Despite the below average offense, Henry was still able to rack up 1,936 all-purpose yards in 16 games. Henry is still in his prime but in order for him to continue to be successful he needed some help.

The Titans decided to turn to the 2023 NFL Draft to get Henry the help he needs. They selected Tyjae Spears from Tulane in the 3rd round. Spears is exactly the type of change-of-pace back this offense needed. It’s hard to judge too much from preseason games but Spears was impressive in his first action with the team. If you watched Tulane closely this isn’t a huge surprise as Spears averaged 4.10 YAC in his college career. At 5’10” size is a concern but as of now, he will be an ideal backup for Henry.

The Bad

In back-to-back drafts now the Titans have drafted quarterbacks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. First, it was Malik Willis last year and then it was Will Levis in this year’s draft. It appears that Tennessee like the rest of us has doubts about Ryan Tannehill going forward. I don’t mind that the Titans are looking for their next quarterback but if they really felt it was a weakness they should’ve moved up in the draft. Willis still doesn’t look ready and there are questions about Levis and if he can succeed at this level.

The Prediction

The Titans are one of the toughest teams to predict for the upcoming season. On one hand, they have several all-pro players including Jeffery Simmons and the recently acquired DeAndre Hopkins. On the other, all of that won’t matter if Tannehill can’t provide better production from the QB position. I do think they will finish slightly above .500 but it will be just short of the playoffs.

2023 Record: (9-8 2nd in the Division)

The post Tennessee Titans Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

This past offseason the top 3 running backs available were all franchise tagged. In addition, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler is also not happy about his current contract situation. If it wasn’t for a recent boost in incentives, Ekeler may have been traded. It’s important to point out these details as the real value of running backs has been debated in recent years. One thing you can’t debate is that the players below all play a critical role in their teams’ success. Let’s now look closer at the top 10 running backs in the NFL today.

10. Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara had a bit of a down year that we weren’t accustomed to seeing in 2022. In fact, the entire Saints offense took a step back last year and struggled to find an identity. New Orleans hopes the new addition of Derek Carr will help solve their offensive woes and help them take a step forward. Carr will open up the field again for Kamara and the running back should bounce back. Health and off-the-field issues will be a concern for Kamara but as of now, it looks like he won’t be suspended.

2022 Stats: 1,387 all purpose yards | 4 total touchdowns

9. Joe Mixon

When healthy, Joe Mixon has put up consistent numbers throughout his career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Mixon is a true three-down back in one of the league’s best offenses. In 2023, he will have the backfield all to himself as Samaje Perine is now with the Broncos. You can expect another Pro Bowl caliber year from Mixon and plenty of opportunities to score.

2022 Stats: 1,255 all purpose yards | 9 total touchdowns

8. Tony Pollard

When the Dallas Cowboys released Ezekiel Elliott this offseason it signaled a changing of the guard. They were now confident enough to let Tony Pollard be the feature back. Pollard has all the tools of a modern NFL running back. He will now get the chance to showcase those skills for Dallas. The only concern with Pollard is durability. Can he handle the full-time workload?

2022 Stats: 1,378 all purpose yards | 12 total touchdowns

7. Aaron Jones

For most of his career in Green Bay, Aaron Jones has had competition in the Packers backfield. That really hasn’t mattered as Jones has put up numbers regardless. Jones has always been a threat in the receiving game and in 2022 had 5 receiving touchdowns. Now with Aaron Rodgers out of the picture, Jones will be relied on more than ever.

2022 Stats: 1,516 all purpose yards | 7 total touchdowns

6. Saquon Barkley

The aforementioned Saquon Barkley will be playing with a chip on his shoulder next season. For what it’s worth, the Giants should’ve franchise tagged Daniel Jones and paid Barkley his due. It’s now unlikely that the two sides will agree on a new deal before the start of the season. The off-the-field noise won’t slow down Barkley’s production in 2023.

2022 Stats: 1,650 all purpose yards | 10 total touchdowns

5. Nick Chubb

Since his rookie season, Nick Chubb has rushed for 1000+ yards each year he has been in the league. Chubb has always been an old school type of running back who can carry the heavy load. He had 302 rushing attempts last season and is showing no signs of slowing down.

2002 Stats: 1,764 all purpose yards | 13 total touchdowns

4. Derrick Henry

Like Chubb, Derrick Henry is a between the tackles type of runner with breakaway speed. There were rumors this offseason that the Titans might try and trade Henry. Those rumors turned out to be false as Henry looks poised for another big year. No matter who the quarterback is for the Titans, Henry will be the focal point of this offense for the foreseeable future.

2022 Stats: 1,936 all purpose yards | 13 total touchdowns

3. Austin Ekeler

Austin Ekeler is one of the most versatile running backs in the NFL today. Line him up anywhere on the field and Ekeler will deliver. As we mentioned before this is likely Ekeler’s last season for the Chargers due to the contract situation. If he hits free agency expect a big payday for Ekeler.

2022 Stats: 1,637 all purpose yards | 18 total touchdowns

2. Josh Jacobs

Despite being franchise tagged this offseason, Josh Jacobs has been business as usual. Jacobs is a true professional who lets his game speak for itself. In 2022, Jacobs led the league in rushing yards, all purpose yards, yards per game and total touches. Even with a change at quarterback for the Raiders you can expect the gameplan to be the same. Keep feeding Jacobs.

2022 Stats: 2,053 all purpose yards | 12 total touchdowns

1. Christian McCaffrey

When Christian McCaffrey was traded to the San Francisco 49ers this past season it was a bit surprising. Kyle Shanahan has always deployed a running back by committee offensive system. By bringing in McCaffrey he knew he would have to rely heavily on his new star. The trade paid off as the 49ers were just 1 game away from the Super Bowl despite questions at quarterback. Now with a full offseason under his belt, McCaffrey is set for a monster year in San Francisco.

2022 Stats: 1,880 all purpose yards | 13 total touchdowns

The post Top 10 Running Backs in 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Houston Texans: How much will C.J. Stroud show in his rookie season?

The C.J. Stroud drama is over and I’m very happy for him. The Texans QB of the future will have a tough road as the Texans have a subpar roster. The good thing is that they are trying to build a young core that will grow together. With this roster, Stroud will have his bad games. His reps will be valuable as I predict there will be some rookie Trevor Lawrence moments. I hope as the season progresses, the Texans will let him do more so he can show potential growth for his sophomore season.

Indianapolis Colts: Will Anthony Richardson be the starter in Week 1?

The Colts took their QB of the future in the raw prospect out of Florida. Anthony Richardson appears to have the highest ceiling among all the QBs but he’s probably the least NFL-ready. This gives the Colts a conundrum. With a roster that was unlucky last season, it has potential to be better than expected. They have Gardner Minshew who is ready to lead the Colts to some wins early on. The question is when they’ll give the keys to AR. He will grow with the reps, but the wins won’t be guaranteed. He’s not Andrew Luck who led the Colts in his rookie season. Training camp will give us a glimpse on the landscape of the Colts.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Is Trevor Lawrence primed to rule the AFC South for years to come?

The Jacksonville Jaguars had a run to remember as they ended a strong second half of the season with a come-from-behind Wild Card win over the Chargers. A lot of this is also on the immense growth of Trevor Lawrence. He looked like the generational QB out of Clemson and was making smart plays. Now, the roster is a year older, and with the addition of Calvin Ridley, the Jaguars look much more impressive compared to their division rivals. There is a scenario where the other three will all start rookie QBs and Trevor is the most experienced. Another strong season with a convincing division win lead will make the Jaguars THE team in the AFC South.

Tennessee Titans: When will Ryan Tannehill give the reigns to the future?

The Titans feel very close to a rebuild. Derrick Henry is getting older and this team doesn’t feel like the team it was before. Ryan Tannehill did lead Tennessee to the playoffs multiple times but it appears he has reached his ceiling. Drafting Malik Willis and Will Levis in conscutive drafts isn’t a good sign either for his Titans career. Once they let either become the starter, it looks like a new era in Tennessee will be happening.

The post AFC South: Biggest Question to be Answered Per Team appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Will Levis with the First Pick?

Thanks to an anonymous Reddit post, Will Levis to the Carolina Panthers is gaining steam. The post is claiming that Levis is telling friends and family that Carolina is taking him with the first overall pick. Take the post with a grain of salt but it’s important to note that his betting odds have changed dramatically over the past 24 hours. I am not yet buying it as it seems like the Panthers are set on selecting Bryce Young. If Levis doesn’t go number 1, I expect him to go to he Colts.

Jalen Carter to the Seahawks is a Perfect Match

By now we all know the drama surrounding Jalen Carter and his off the field incidents. This will cause him to fall slightly but he is still the best prospect in this year’s draft. Seattle is the perfect fit for Carter and I projected him there in my latest mock draft. Pete Carroll is just what Carter needs as he will motivate and challenge him in the right ways.

Bijan Robinson in the Top 10?

Say what you want about taking a running back in the first round but Bijan Robinson is a different animal. He is the best overall offensive talent in this year’s draft. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield along with his explosiveness sets him apart from the other running backs. Robinson to the Eagles at 10 makes too much sense. The Eagles said goodbye to Miles Sanders this offseason and picked up Rashaad Penny. Penny will be their bruiser but Robinson will be the playmaking RB they are looking for.

Titans Trade for a Quarterback

Tennessee looks like they want to move on from Ryan Tannehill and they have the ammo to make a big draft day trade. We have talked about it before as rumors have Derrick Henry on the trade block. Henry as part of a draft day package should be enough to get the Titans into the top 10 and allow them to select a QB.

Commanders Trade Back Again

In last year’s draft the Washington Commanders traded back in the first round and it was on of the best moves of the draft. They ended up using the draft capital to pick up Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr. and Sam Howell. These three are the young core the Commanders are now building on as they look to the future. I expect them to trade back again and focus on a CB or an OL. Both are big needs for the Commanders going into next year.

The post 5 Thoughts Before the 2023 NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

Derrick Henry has been one of the most consistent players in fantasy. The year before, injuries bothered him for the first time as he was only available to play eight games. Even in those limited games, he was able to rush for 937 yards and 10 TDs. Owners were wondering if his health would be a factor going forward, especially after what happened in 2021.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

Fantasy owners were still high on him as he was the 10th player taken in fantasy. He was the fourth RB taken, which was understandable in a PPR league. Being behind JT, CMC, and Ekeler is nothing to be ashamed of as they can catch the ball also. Having Henry would keep the RB1 position in your team in good hands.

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

Derrick Henry had a tremendous bounce-back year for fantasy owners as he was able to stay healthy for the season. He finished as the fourth-best RB in terms of PPR. The Titans’ RB ran for 1538 yards and 13 TDs and caught 33 passes for 398 yards. Looking ahead into next season, Henry is being shopped by the Titans as they are moving towards rebuilding possibly. If he were to stay with the Titans next season, he is still an elite RB.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 5 vs Washington Commanders

After a slow start to the season, the Titans were catching steam ahead of their Week 5 matchup vs the Commanders. In a critical road game, Henry ran for 102 yards and two TDs. The first one came with 20 seconds left in the 2nd quarter. The last one turned out to be the final score as his one-yard run TD put Tennessee up 21-17. His performance gave him 27.20 FP. Three straight weeks of 20+ FP make owners rejoice.

Week 8 vs Houston Texans

Derrick Henry’s favorite team is the Houston Texans. Whenever the two face each other, Henry always seems to bring out his best. This matchup gave him 35.80 FP, his most for the season. Henry ran for a season-high 219 yards and two TDs. The first TD came from a 29-yard run and the second was a TD from the one. Tennessee was on a hot streak as they hit their fifth straight win after starting 0-2.

Week 9 vs Kansas City Chiefs

In a game where Malik Willis started, the Titans needed everything they can from Derrick Henry to lead the offense. He did his best as Willis only got 80 yards passing. He rushed for two TDs in the 2nd quarter to give the Titans a 14-3 lead. The Chiefs sadly came from behind and won in OT.

The post 2022-2023 Fantasy Football Review: Derrick Henry appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

Philadelphia needed a WR 1 in order to take a leap with Jalen Hurts. A.J. Brown was a WR 1 in Tennessee, which ran a run-heavy offense with Derrick Henry. In the offseason, a shocking trade changed the landscape of the NFL. The Eagles were able to acquire AJ Brown to fortify their offense and give Jalen Hurts another weapon. People were excited to see how the Eagles would grow with a legitimate top wide receiver.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

Coming into the draft, AJ Brown was slotted with an ADP of 40. This ADP gave him the 10th WR on average to be taken. Looking at the WRs ahead of him, this seemed like a good spot for him as the elite WRs and consistent WRs were slotted above him. The WRs after him were more of the solid WR 2 of their teams. AJ Brown was generally drafted from the 3rd-4th round.

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

AJ Brown proved to be more than a spark for the Philadelphia Eagles. His presence gave the Eagles life as they were the top team in the NFC finishing first in the conference. In fantasy, AJ Brown finished as the 6th best receiver and 19th overall player in fantasy football. His trade may end up being the best trade of the season.

In terms of snap percentage, AJ Brown was active in at least 74% of the snaps for the entire year and missed no games. Eight of his games ended up with him as a top-15 WR in the week. He ended the season with 1496 yards and 11 TDs. Both were career-highs in his young career.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 1 vs Detroit Lions

AJ Brown’s story in Philadelphia started out with a BANG. In his first game as an Eagle, they faced the Detroit Lions on the road. Jalen Hurts found him early and often. AJ Brown caught 10 passes for 155 yards. This would be a sign for the future as Hurts looked very comfortable passing it to his new WR 1. He had 25.50 FP in his Eagles debut.

Week 8 vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Coming off a bye week, the Steelers were the next opponent for the Philadelphia Eagles. They entered the game undefeated at 6-0. The Pittsburgh defense was no match for Brown. AJ caught six passes for 156 yards and three TDs. He caught a 39-yard TD in the 1st quarter and a 27-yard and 29-yard TD in the second quarter. He made his mark in the game after just one half. AJ scored 39.60 FP this game and was the WR 1.

Week 13 vs Tenessee Titans

This matchup was circled on AJ Brown’s schedule ever since the schedule came out. A lot of headlines focused on AJ and his meeting with the Titans. He made them regret their decision of trading him. AJ came in hot with eight catches and 119 yards and two TDs in the Week 13 matchup. He outscored the Tennessee Titans as the Eagles won 35-10. Brown scored 31.90 FP and was the WR 3 for that week.

The post 2022-2023 Fantasy Football Review: AJ Brown appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

Green Bay Packers: Super Bowl Pretenders or Contenders?

The Green Packers are back to winning ways after a terrible run of form, beating the Dallas Cowboys in overtime thanks to a Mason Crosby field goal.
 
Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers went into the London game against the New York Giants with a 3-1 record. Despite leading the game 10-3 after the first quarter and leading 20-10 at halftime, they ended up losing 27-22. Until Sunday, they had not won since.
 
They lost games that nobody would have predicted, including games against the New York Jets, Washington Commanders, and Detroit Lions.
 
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has struggled to recapture his form this season, after two back-to-back MVP-winning campaigns.
 
However, despite their 4-6 record at the time of writing,  they are still ninth in the NFC seeding and just one win away from the San Francisco 49ers who currently occupy the seventh seed.
 
So, are the Packers Super Bowl pretenders or contenders?

Learning From The Chiefs

If any team is to learn from another who overcame adversity and media scrutiny to make the playoffs, it is the 2021 Kansas City Chiefs.
 
Much like the Packers this year, the Chiefs went into last season as one of the Super Bowl favourites after two back-to-back appearances.
 
Despite winning their season opener, Kansas City lost three of their next four and after the conclusion of week seven, they were 3-4. They only went on to lose one more game and finished the season as the AFC West champions with a 12-5 record and would make it all the way to the AFC Conference Championship game.
 
A second-half collapse in the game prevented them from making a third straight Super Bowl and they should have been there at SoFi Stadium facing the Los Angeles Rams. They showed that you should not crown champions or announce teams to be dead to rights with only half the season game. After all, the New England Patriots often started slowly in Super Bowl-winning years.
 
This feels the same for Green Bay. Whilst the current 8-1 record of NFC North rivals the Minnesota Vikings means they are unlikely to make the postseason as division winners, a Wildcard Round spot does not appear out of the realms of possibility.
 
Rodgers snapped back-to-back games with an interception, cutting out ugly plays that was seen in the Lions loss. Rookie wideout Christian Watson finally showed what he could do with Rodgers and this is frightening for the rest of the league.
 
We all saw his connection with Davante Adams and it is clear Rodgers missed him. There is no better time for Watson to finally come into his own.

There is also the run game, which appeared to bring success against Dallas in Week Ten. The Packers had 39 carries as opposed to just 14 receptions. Aaron Jones led the way, with 138 rushing yards and one touchdown from 24 carries.

There appears to be a change of game plan from Head Coach Matt LaFleur, with Jones running for the most carries in any single game this season. Subsequently, this resulted in his second-highest yards total for any game in the 2022 campaign.

The flip to the run game, as a result, saw Rodgers throw for his lowest single-game completion this season, with just 20 attempted passes (14 completed) against Dallas. He has only thrown for less than 30 attempted passes this season, as seen in the Week Two 27-10 win over the Chicago Bears. Could the run game be the secret to success for any late Packers playoff run?

A Tough Schedule Still Remains

Their schedule is the one factor that could derail any late-season push in their search for a playoff appearance. The Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, and Minnesota still await.
 
The Packers have beaten both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cowboys. They will use this as inspiration for their upcoming opponents, but they need to be wary that any slip-up could burst the bubble of any hope of postseason football.

Pretenders or Contenders?

Right now, you would have to still say they are pretenders. After all, it is just one win. However, their game against Tennessee Titans on Thursday Night Football is the true test of whether last Sunday’s win over the Cowboys was a one-off.

Only four teams have allowed more rushing yards this season than the Packers (1,406) and they are seventh-worst in the league for rushing yards allowed per game (140.6). They will not welcome the prospect of playing Derrick Henry this week.

Henry is seen by many as the best running back in the league, and currently possesses the second-most rushing yards this season (923), and only Nick Chubb has more rushing touchdowns than Henry (9). If they can handle Henry and get the win at Lambeau Field, his could be the start of a remarkable run. If they lose, they will be sent straight back down to earth with a reality check.

The post Are The Green Bay Packers Super Bowl Pretenders Or Contenders? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Nathan Nguyen

When defensive coordinator Wink Martindale arrived in East Rutherford, a breath of fresh air blew around Metlife Stadium. His history of creating blitz-heavy schemes (similar to the former DC in the Big Apple, Gregg Williams) made it clear that the New York Giants defense would be different from years past.

So far, so good. After limiting Derrick Henry to just 82 rushing yards on 21 carries, New York held the Carolina Panthers to just 16 points in week two for the win. Even with a pedestrian day from the offense, the defense stood firm against Baker Mayfield (who was roasted by many Giants fans because of his comments on Daniel Jones in the past).

But, let’s think about this for a second. New York has yet to see Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari on the field in the regular season. But, Jihad Ward and Oshane Ximines have stepped in beautifully and gotten to the quarterback.

There were question marks at the cornerback position heading into the year, especially with Adoree Jackson being the only capable player safe as CB1. But, Darnay Holmes and Aaron Robinson have been serviceable. Xavier McKinney is holding his own back at the safety position, and Julian Love had a sack against Carolina that was key to the Giants’ win.

Overall, the Giants’ defense is very underrated. They don’t have the big-name players other teams have or perhaps top-end profiles that were present on the Giants Championship defense. But, the scheme has put these players in a good situation.

Fantasy-wise, they are the 16th best defense in the league, averaging 5.5 fantasy points through two games. They have yet to allow their opponents to score more than 20 points in a game, and that could continue as they head into a Monday night matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

It’s early, I get it. But, this is a good start for a team with new schemes on both the offense and defense. But, to be 2-0 after many expected them to be a rebuilding team this year is a big morale boost.

The post Look Out For This Giants Defense in Week 3 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Tennessee Titans superstar ball-carrier, Derrick Henry, is well regarded as one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league. The King was at the top of the mountain in 2020 when he unleashed 2,027 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns — which led him to win Offensive Player of The Year (and garner first-team All-Pro honors).

Let’s not forget that Henry also had a magical 2019 season where he unveiled 1,540 rushing yds and 16 rushing TDs in 15 games. The Titans RB1 also ran angry for 12 rushing TDs in 2018 & 10 rushing TDs in 2021. He blatantly has been a wrecking ball and unstoppable in his post-Alabama football career. With that said, there is a fascinating, grand question revolving around the Titans RB1: Is Henry a future Hall of Famer?

At this moment, I don’t believe that Henry is a lock to be cast into Canton. He has a similar resume as CJ2K, where he has a couple of incredible seasons (which include rushing for 2,000+ yards). Although, I don’t believe he’s been overly consistent in dominating his foes throughout his career. He’s only made two Pro Bowls, which doesn’t stack up well to the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson (five Pro Bowl nods) & Adrian Peterson (seven Pro Bowl nods).

Henry needs to have 2-3 more Pro Bowl-caliber seasons to deserve the respect that will place him in football heaven in my opinion. It isn’t easy for an RB to make it into Canton, but Henry does have the potential to do so. Is Henry on a path to making it into the Hall of Fame? I do believe that the former Bama workaholic has that rare combination of mindset and talent that will push him to be a top-tier RB for each of the next couple of seasons. Ultimately, I anticipate that he will have a slightly more potent resume than CJ2K and he will give a HOF speech at some point.

The post Is Derrick Henry a future Hall of Famer? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.